Nicky Henderson on the mark with another smart novice in Jingko Blue but race marred by death of stablemate

Another day, another smart novice hurdle winner for Nicky Henderson as Jingko Blue showed a tenacious attitude to edge out Masaccio over 2m4½f, but the trainer's thoughts were with stablemate Jeu Des Champs, who suffered a fatal heart attack in the same race.

Henderson was left with the sombre task of calling the owners of Jeu Des Champs from the winner's enclosure and was clearly shaken after witnessing the point-to-point runner-up collapse between the first two hurdles on his debut under rules.

"I've just spoken to the vet who said he was gone before he even got to him," said Henderson. "It's very sad but it happened quickly."

Henderson was on the mark with the highly touted Jeriko Du Reponet at Newbury on Friday and while Jingko Blue was perhaps not as visually impressive, he showed a fabulous attitude to regain the lead on the post having been passed by Masaccio after the last.

"I think he did well to get back up," said Henderson. "It deserved to be a dead-heat and I think the first two are both smart horses.

"It's a juggling game at the moment with the novices because they are a good bunch and spreading them out is important. I think he is good, but he's only young and let's go one step at a time. He's growing up all the time."

Future Grade 1 winners Bravemansgame, Stay Away Fay, Stage Star and Santini are former winners of this novice event. Jingko Blue was introduced at 33-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by William Hill and 40-1 for the Ballymore.

Inch House (left) produces a fine leap Credit: Edward Whitaker

Jonjo joy

Jonjo O'Neill was thrilled to win the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Chase with Inch House, who was completing a fine two days for owner Michael Geoghegan.

Geoghegan was in the winner's enclosure at the track on Friday courtesy of the Paul Nicholls-trained Kandoo Kid and looks to have a nice prospect on his hands in Inch House.

Winning the race brought back memories of the legendary O'Sullevan for O'Neill, who said: "It's lovely to win this. We had great times with Sir Peter, and he had horses in training with us, so we had lots of good fun.

"He helped me out one day at Wetherby when we had new owners in and they'd paid a few quid for this horse. He was just beaten a short head on the line and Sir Peter saw me in the bar afterwards. He came in and by the time he left, these owners thought they'd won the race. I told him it was very kind and he said, 'I could see you were struggling'."

Niall Houlihan is at the controls on Hansard

Niall Houlihan gets the job done on HansardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Moore glory

Hansard has always been well regarded and won the Coral-backed race known as the Gerry Feilden in the hands of Niall Houlihan, who was deputising for the injured Jamie Moore.

Moore, whose father Gary trains the five-year-old, hurt his neck at Lingfield recently and Houlihan was an able replacement.

"Niall gave him a lovely ride," said Gary Moore. "It's his first time riding him, but he spoke to Jamie and they worked it out between them – and everything went to plan.

"Jamie is as good as he can be but missing that won't make him feel any better. He's in a neck brace for six weeks and then we'll see."

Manimole is on top under Sam Twiston-DaviesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Manimole obliges

Manimole continued to make up for lost time with a battling victory in the Listed novice hurdle for fillies and mares.

She was winless until her ninth race but has now won four of her last eight starts. On her debut at Ffos Las last year, she was banned from running for 40 days and Nigel Twiston-Davies fined £3,000 after the stewards on duty that day thought she was not trying.

"She's wonderful and is getting better and better and better," he said. "That fine is all in the past, but they shouldn't have taken it off me."

Explaining the slow-burning nature of Manimole's career, the trainer added: "Experience has helped, but she's the easiest thing to train and doesn't take a lot of work. Maybe the key is to jump and try to go flat out, rather than try to ride a race on her. Poor girl, she'll probably have to go to the Cheltenham Festival now!"

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